stunt

¹

[ stuhnt ]

verb (used with object)

1. to stop, slow down, or hinder the growth or development of; dwarf:

   A harsh climate stunted the trees.

   Brutal treatment in childhood stunted his personality.

noun

1. a stop or hindrance in growth or development.
2. arrested development.
3. a plant or animal hindered from attaining its proper growth.
4. Plant Pathology. a disease of plants, characterized by a dwarfing or stunting of the plant.

stunt

²

[ stuhnt ]

noun

1. a performance displaying a person's skill or dexterity, as in athletics; feat:

   an acrobatic stunt.

2. any remarkable feat performed chiefly to attract attention:

   The kidnapping was said to be a publicity stunt.

verb (used without object)

1. to do a stunt or stunts.
2. Television Slang. to add specials, miniseries, etc., to a schedule of programs, especially so as to increase ratings.

verb (used with object)

1. to use in doing stunts:

   to stunt an airplane.

stunt

¹

/ stʌnt /

noun

1. an acrobatic, dangerous, or spectacular action
2. an acrobatic or dangerous piece of action in a film or television programme
3. anything spectacular or unusual done to gain publicity

verb

1. intr to perform a stunt or stunts

stunt

²

/ stʌnt /

verb

1. tr to prevent or impede the growth or development of (a plant, animal, etc)

noun

1. the act or an instance of stunting
2. a person, animal, or plant that has been stunted

Derived Forms

• ˈstunted, adjective
• ˈstuntedness, noun

Other Words From

• stunting·ly adverb
• stunty adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stunt¹

First recorded in 1575–85; verb use of dialect stunt “dwarfed, stubborn”; cognate with Middle High German stunz, Old Norse stuttr “short”; akin to stint ¹

Origin of stunt²

An Americanism dating back to 1890–95; origin uncertain; perhaps a variant of stump ( def ) (in the sense “challenge; dare”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of stunt¹

C19: US student slang, of unknown origin

Origin of stunt²

C17 (as vb: to check the growth of): perhaps from C15 stont of short duration, from Old English stunt simple, foolish; sense probably influenced by Old Norse stuttr short in stature, dwarfed

Example Sentences

I was on set in a harness, flying, rehearsing stunts.

From Los Angeles Times

A child is considered stunted when they fall short of the expected height for their age - a clear sign of critical nutritional gaps.

From BBC

Bellew, in what appeared to be a stunt for a betting company, was joined by an older man.

From BBC

“Not only was it espionage, but there were stunts,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

The stunt coordinator was running along beside me the whole time to make sure that if I fell, he could catch me.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• antic
• feat
• sketch
• skit